Red & Green

August 28, 2023
With the bold visual force of traffic signals, die-cut spreads from the late Ehlert are splashed with super-saturated reds, magentas, and greens in this memorable update of “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” A decorated wreath with zigzag edges first opens onto words in large white type: “It was a cold, wintry night,/ and all through the house,// not a creature was stirring...// except a small mouse!” Big, bold forms accompany the familiar-sounding text—a hand-cut snowflake represents “new-fallen snow,” and other lines accompany images of a snowperson, a pine
festooned with ornaments, and a tray of cookies whose shapes duplicate forms seen earlier. After taking a judicious taste of the treats, the mouse settles down before an unexpected interruption by a familiar-looking set of boots. Hi-vis elements and a seek-and-find sensibility lend visual zip to this winning variation on a classic. Ages up to 8.

September 1, 2023

PreS-Gr 1-Accompanied by digital recreations of the late Ehlert's cut-paper collages, here is a twist on a holiday classic based on Clement C. Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas." The story follows a mischievous mouse on Christmas Eve. Throughout the night, the mouse rustles around the house, hears a clatter, and eats some Christmas cookies before Santa arrives. The mouse's rhyming tale will entertain practicing readers and surprise those who expect the classic poem. With bold, contrasting colors, basic shapes create vivid cut-paper collage scenes. The pigment of each page is rich and will appeal to young pre-readers. Although the mouse eats Santa's treat, young readers will laugh at the little creature's adventure on Christmas Eve. VERDICT A funny picture book for pre- and early readers. Pair with Ehlert's Color Zoo, and with other books for low vision, such as Herv� Tullet's Press Here.-Hilary Tufo

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2023
Mouse explores a house filled with Christmas spirit before helping himself to a little sweet treat that might have been intended for someone else. In this tale that follows the format of " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas," Mouse notes seasonally significant changes around his house. There are new wreaths, a poinsettia, and a plate of delicious cookies, which Mouse samples before snuggling into a mitten to sleep. But Mouse realizes he may have bitten off more than he could chew when Santa bellows, "Who ate my treat?" While festive, the narrative is slight, more list than story, and the rhyme occasionally scans awkwardly. We get only a quick glimpse of Mouse's tail early on and no actual mouse sightings until near the end, which may be confusing for younger listeners. If the story is a bit lackluster, the art is anything but. In quintessentially Ehlert style, elaborately edged collages, uniquely shaped pages, and intricate die-cuts burst with yuletide cheer. A sharply crimped Christmas tree adorned with shiny foil decorations is perfect for the holiday season, while a bold and dynamically cut snowflake is a visual and tactile delight. At times, the graphic collages bolster each other so that a gently rounded snowman looking at a smiling crescent moon creates a layered, three-dimensional feel. Despite the ho-hum story, the merry art will keep little readers engaged. (Picture book. 2-8)

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September 15, 2023
Preschool-Grade 3 It was a cold, wintry night, / and all through the house, / Not a creature was stirring . . . / Except a small mouse." Loosely based on Clement C. Moore's poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," this highly simplified version features a little mouse as the only creature stirring before Santa's arrival. While Santa decorates the tree, the mouse nibbles at a plate of cookies before sliding into a little mitten to sleep. Then someone asks, "Who ate my treat?" While the ending is a bit weak, the text serves as a familiar narrative vehicle for the art. Ehlert connects with viewers through attention to the illustrations' clean lines, geometric shapes, and the highly individual juxtaposition of colors that is the keynote of her style and a dramatic visual element in the cut-paper collages, found after her death in 2021, which became the basis of this picture book. Page turning becomes part of the fun, and die-cut elements add an appealing, interactive touch. A playful picture book that offers a familiar Christmas story and striking, distinctive art.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2023
"It was a cold, wintry night, / and all through the house, / not a creature was stirring... / except a small mouse!" Ehlert's (posthumously published) take on "The Night Before Christmas" provides a zoomed-in, mouse's-eye view, with her trademark geometric illustrations stealing the show. Frequent die-cuts in unexpected configurations enhance delight, with each page-turn bringing a singular surprise. Bold hues include the expected red-and-green palette along with pops of fuchsia here, understated tones there, and the occasional shiny foils. The tall-and-thin vertical orientation makes pages easy to turn and evokes the Christmas tree on the cover and at the center of the book. Elissa Gershowitz

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)